Looking Back on Our Year at Appletons – A Fresh New Look and So Much More

What a wonderfully busy, colourful, and transformative year it’s been at Appletons. As we pause to reflect, there’s one big moment that really stands out, our brand-new website and rebrand. It’s been one of the most exciting and significant milestones in our recent history, and it’s set the tone for everything else we’ve achieved this year. 

A Fresh Chapter for Appletons

Without doubt, the highlight of our year has been the launch of our new website and the refresh of the Appletons brand. 

We wanted a space that truly reflected who we are today, a heritage British wool business with deep roots and a warm, modern spirit. The new site doesn’t just look beautiful, it makes discovering Appletons easier, clearer, and more enjoyable for stitchers everywhere. 

Our colours, our wool ranges, our story. They’re all now presented in a way that honours tradition while embracing the future. And the feedback has been fantastic. Seeing new and returning customers explore the site, browse the collections, and enjoy the clearer layouts and richer visuals has made all the hard work worthwhile. 

Launching the rebrand also reaffirmed everything Appletons stands for: British-made quality, creativity, authenticity, and a love of craft that’s been passed down through generations. 

Expanding Our Creative World

As well as refreshing the brand, we continued growing creatively this year. We welcomed two brilliant designers, Nel Watmore and Vanessa Bowman, whose floral designs expand our collection into the beautiful world of horticulture! 

We also launched the latest in the Emily Peacock collection  – Vivienne Westwood  

I hope you love her as much as we do! 

And earlier in the year, we broadened our colour palette with a new grey range, giving stitchers even more choice and freedom to design. 

Growth, Customers, and a Successful Show

Demand for Appletons wool continued to rise this year, with increased orders and lots of new customers joining us. While we’re modest about shouting numbers from the rooftops, it’s been heart-warming to see more people discover the joy of working with pure British crewel and tapestry wool. 

A big highlight was our successful Knitting & Stitching Show, where we met so many wonderful stitchers, designers, and long-standing friends of the brand. 

Our Team & Community

We’re delighted to have welcomed Justyna to the Appletons team this year – another pair of hands (and a lovely personality) helping to keep everything running smoothly. 

We also continued our commitment to supporting the local community by welcoming work experience students, giving them hands-on exposure to textiles, colour, craftsmanship, and the world of wool production. 

Behind the Scenes – Smoother Operations for the Future

While the rebrand took centre stage, we also worked hard behind the scenes. We introduced a new accounting system to streamline our internal processes and have been gearing up for the arrival of a new skeining machine, due early next year. Small steps that make a big difference in keeping Appletons thriving. 

Looking Ahead 

With a fresh brand, a shiny new website, and a year of creative and operational progress behind us, we feel more energised than ever. 

Next year, we’ll continue: 

• building our design partnerships 
• expanding our colour and product offering 
• strengthening our team 
• and nurturing the Appletons community we care so deeply about 

Thank you for being part of our journey this year. From the first thread to the final stitch, we’re so grateful to everyone who supports Appletons, shares our story, and keeps the art of needlework alive. 

Here’s to an exciting year ahead full of colour, creativity, and plenty of woolly goodness.
With love, warmth, and yarn. 

The Appletons Team